(HARRISBURG, PA) The Pennsylvania Homecare Association today presented Sen. Michele Brooks with the No Place Like Home Legislative Champion Award.
The honor is presented to Pennsylvania lawmakers who have been champions for seniors and individuals with disabilities who choose to receive care and services in their own homes. Senator Brooks (R-Crawford County) has been an important advocate of homecare.
“We at PHA and our members are grateful for Senator Brooks’ support,” said Vicki Hoak, PHA CEO. “Her leadership on homecare issues has been so important for seniors and individuals with disabilities across Pennsylvania.”
Brooks has been a long-standing supporter of providing people better access to homecare. By making the process easier, more people who want to get care at home, and stay connected to their communities, can do so.
She also has been a vocal supporter of homecare issues in her leadership positions as chairwoman of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and vice-chair of the Senate Aging and Youth Committee.
The award was presented at a time when the Pennsylvania General Assembly is finishing funding plans for the 2019-2020 state budget. Homecare advocates are urging lawmakers to include a Medicaid rate increase for homecare in the spending plan.
There has not been a rate increase since 2014. In that time, homecare agencies have seen their costs increase, such as fees for unfunded mandates including a $14 increase for criminal background checks. Agencies are struggling to pay workers more without the Medicaid rate boost.
“Taking care of my grandmother after she suffered a stroke and watching my mom pass away, I fully understand how important it is to be able to care for our loved ones at home,” Brooks said. “It means a great deal, not only to patients, but to their families, and I will do whatever I can to help families as they travel through difficult times. I thank the PHA for this award and for working with me to help advance this mission.”
About PHA… The Pennsylvania Homecare Association is a statewide organization of more than 700 homecare and hospice providers. PHA members provide quality care and serve as advocates for their patients and clients on a variety of healthcare related issues. PHA and its members work hard to improve professional standards and ensure access to quality homecare throughout the Commonwealth. To learn more, visit www.pahomecare.org.
Contact:
Jeanette Krebs
Phone: 717-418-6106
Email: jk@krebs.solutions